In the Week 13 win over Baltimore, Jalen Hurts represented his Jalen Hurts Foundation for the NFL's My Cause My Cleats initiative.
His foundation is geared toward the youth, so when he was given the opportunity to work with patients at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), he could not pass it up.
"Our mission is to serve, progress, and mentor our youth. We want to give them more opportunities and amplify their platforms. I really believe that half the battle is just having an opportunity and being pushed to a point where you believe that you can yourself," Hurts said about his foundation. "There's so much opportunity in our youth, sometimes even in our adults, where they have something in them that they need to be pushed towards accomplishing. It's been a fun journey getting that started and there's so much work to be done."
On Sunday against the Carolina Panthers, Hurts wore a unique pair of cleats – one that was designed with the help of three children who are patients of CHOP.
Hurts visited John, Nicholas, and Vaughn at CHOP on Tuesday, November 26 to design the cleats.
"It was a fun process. Everyone snipped in and gave their opinions, and everyone had some influence on the outcome of the cleat," Hurts said. "We had the gold ribbon (the international awareness symbol for Childhood Cancer), then we had red for Christmas because Nicholas was in the Christmas spirit. Vaughn was feeling a blue tone, so we went blue, so we had fun with that."
On the back of one of the cleats, the letters "NVJ" representing Nicholas, Vaughn, and John were featured, while CHOP's logo was on the back of the other cleat.
The four designers collaborated together, drawing and coloring their ideas out on paper, before a computer simulation provided a real-time look.
"He came into the room and he was a big guy, a really big guy. There were pieces of paper on the table and we designed the cleats however we wanted to do it, and we combined all four together," John said. "I made the gold cancer sign, and he put them on. I think it's all amazing."
Hurts was more than grateful to meet all three children, but he knew something they did not.
"I just told them to stay strong. It was more so about the moment, just enjoying the moment, being able to play bingo, talk, laugh, answer questions, and ask questions," said Hurts, who hosted the children at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. "I've got to know a lot about three really bright young kids who are fighters and who are strong. It definitely won't be the last time I check in on them."
While the three boys knew Hurts would be wearing the designed cleats during Sunday's game, what they did not know was they would be receiving a pair of their own.
Each child received their own custom pair of sneakers with the same design, a surprise Jalen was anticipating all throughout the week.
"It'll be fun, it's a moment that they deserve. I think every kid deserves those types of moments, just to show that the person you're looking up to is there, and that they care," Hurts said before the game.
After the star quarterback finished his warmups on Sunday, he ran over to the three boys and their families on the field before heading into the locker room.
Hurts revealed the surprise, and the faces of John, Vaugn, and Nicholas lit up immediately. Hurts signed the jerseys he gave them when he visited CHOP and took pictures with all of them and their families.
It was a day that the boys and Jalen will never forget.
"Quarterbacking comes with a lot, and it was a moment to just take a step back and go back and serve in areas where it's really all about. Whether it's in North Philadelphia or CHOP or back home in Texas or wherever it is, being able to leave my fingerprint and imprint on anyone who needs it – that's what it's all about," Hurts said. "I always get to take a step back and show up for those who need it."
– Written by Liam Wichser
